A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 34% currently, from 29% at the same point in 2009. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Monday

Posting its 5th straight week of Monday growth and matching its highest Adult 18-49 number this season, ABC (3.5/9-tie) took second place on the night to CBS’ original lineup, beating NBC’s originals by 84% (1.9/5 – “Chuck”/”Heroes”/”Jay Leno”). ABC ranked No. 1 on the night among Adults 18-34 (3.3/9-tie), Women 18-34 (4.6/12) and Women 18-49 (4.9/12), standing as the top Net for the 3rd week running among the key Women demos.

ABC was up over the year-ago night in both Total Viewers (+1.7 million - 10.3 million vs. 8.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+6% - 3.5/9 vs. 3.3/8).

From 8:00-10:00 p.m., ABC’s “The Bachelor” defeated Fox’s 2-hour Monday season opener of “24” in head-to-head competition by +9% in Adults 18-49 (3.8/9 vs. 3.5/8) and ranked No.1 with Adults 18-34 (3.7/10) and key Women (W18-34/W18-49). The broad-appealing unscripted show also made ABC the top-rated broadcaster in the time period with Teens 12-17 (1.7/5) and Kids 2-11 (1.3/4).

“The Bachelor” qualified as Monday's No. 1 TV program amongWomen 18-34 (4.8/12) for the 3rd telecast in a row.

“The Bachelor” posted a season-high with its 2nd straight week of Total Viewer (10.7 million) and Adult 18-49 (3.8/9) growth, and was up over the same night last year on both Nielsen counts.

Growing its Adult 18-49 audience (2.8/8 – a season high) for its 2nd straight original telecast, ABC’s “Castle” finished a strong second to CBS’ “CSI: Miami” in the 10 o’clock hour,topping NBC’s “Jay Leno” by a best-ever 115% (1.3/3). The ABC sophomore drama ranked No.1 in its time slot with Women 18-34 (3.3/9), beating “CSI: Miami” (3.2/9) for the first time ever.

“Castle” boosted ABC’s performance in the hour over the same night a last yearby 3.6 million viewers (9.4 million vs. 5.8 million) and by 8% in Adults 18-49 (2.8/8 vs. 2.6/7 - an original “True Beauty” on 1/19/09).

Wednesday

Opposite “American Idol” from 8:00-9:00 p.m., repeats of “Modern Family” and “The Middle” gained Adult 18-49 audience (+6%) for ABC in the hour. In fact ABC was the only broadcaster to grow in the time period.

Shooting up from its lead-in by an astounding +147% in Adults 18-49, ABC’s “Modern Family” (4.2/11) won its half-hour, beating CBS’ veteran “Criminal Minds” by 2% (4.1/11) and the first half of Fox’s “Idol”-fueled Wednesday premiere of “Human Target” by 11% (3.8/10).

Growing 10% week to week in Adults 18-49, ABC freshman “Cougar Town” took second place at 9:30 p.m., beating out the second half-hour of Fox’s freshman Wednesday debut of “Human Target” by 17% (3.4/9 vs. 2.9/8). The ABC comedy ranked No. 1 in the half-hour with Adults 18-34 (3.1/9-tie) and Women 18-34 (4.0/11). “Cougar Town” finished as the No. 2 scripted TV show of the night with Adults 18-34 (3.1/9), Men 18-34 (2.2/7-tie) and Women 18-34 (4.0/11), behind only “Modern Family.”

“Cougar Town” marked the series’ highest young Adult and Women numbers (AD18-34/AD18-49/W18-34/W18-49) since September – since 9/30/09.

The series debut of “The Deep End” boosted ABC’s 8 o’clock numbers week to week by 1.7 million viewers (7.1 million vs. 5.4 million) and by 29% in Adults 18-49 (1.8/5 vs. 1.4/4), delivering the Net’s strongest results with non-sports programming in the hour since the beginning of December – since 12/3/09.

Thursday’s No. 1 TV show for the 2nd week in a row among Adults 18-49, ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” (4.7/12) dominated its time slot and stood as the top-rated series on the night for its 11th consecutive original airing this season. Winning the 9 o’clock hour by wide margins over all-original competition,

ABC’s “20/20” ranked No. 1 during Friday’s 10 o’clock hour in Total Viewers (6.4 million), Adults 18-49 (1.5/5) and Adults 25-54 (2.0/6). “20/20” beat out its NBC newsmagazine competition in the time period, topping “Dateline” by 1.4 million viewers and by 11% in the key Adult 25-54 news demographic (“Dateline” = 5.0 million and 1.8/5). The ABC newsmagazine has finished as theNo. 1 regular program during Friday’s 10 o’clock hour on 10 of its last 11 telecasts among Adults 18-49. ABC News’ “20/20” aired a live broadcast from New York, following the “Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief” telethon, bringing viewers a wrap-up of the telethon and Hollywood’s rescue effort to help the people of Haiti. The newsmagazine also featured Barbara Walters’ interview with breakout star Lady Gaga, an eye-opening report by Brian Ross on sexual harassment involving teenagers in the workplace, and a report from Deborah Roberts on the recent US Department of Justice's $24 million dollar settlement with FORBA Holdings LLC, a dental management company that provided services to 69 clinics around the country.

“20/20” grew week to week by 1.0 million viewers, by 7% in Adults 18-49 and by 11% in Adults 25-54. Leading its CBS and NBC competition in the hour by wide margins, “20/20” posted its second-highest number this season with Teens 12-17.

Sunday’s No. 1 non-sports program in Total Viewers (7.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.5/6),ABC’s 2-hour “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” beat out its nearest non-sports competition from 8:00-10:00 p.m. by 2.2 million viewers and by 127% in Adults 18-49 (CBS = 5.7 million and 1.1/3).

Against the NFL Championship Game, “Home Edition” built steadily throughout its telecast, gaining 1.3 millionviewers (7.3 million to 8.6 million) and 27% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/5 to 2.8/6) from its first half-hour to its final half-hour.

WEEK NO. 18:ADULTS 18-49TOTAL VIEWERS

No.1 FOX 8.8 No.1 FOX 24,440,000

No.2 CBS 2.4 No.2 CBS 9,550,000

No.3 ABC 2.1 No.3 ABC 6,310,000

No.4 NBC 1.7 No.4 NBC 5,260,000

No.5 CW 0.8 No.5 CW 1,920,000

Source: The Nielsen Company (National Live+Same Day Program Ratings), week of 1/18/10, unless stated otherwise.